Vacuum cleaner



Nov. 12, 1940. J, B. KIRBY 2,221,745

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR James B. Krb

unmmm BY faQ/M M ATTORN Nov. 12, 1940. J,v B. KIRBY 2,221,746

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR James B.Kir??- W ATToR Nov. 12, 1940. J. B. KIRBY 2,221,746

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 8, 1935 i 3 Sheets-Shea?I 3 INVENTOR James BKir-b M ATTORNEY Patented Nov.`12, 1940v UNITED s'rlvrss PATENT OFFICEVACUUM CLEANER James B. Kirby, West Richfield, Ohio Application May 8,1935, Serial No. 20,377

' 7 Claims.

pliances of all sorts to improve the artistic ap pearance of theirproducts. Vacuum cleaners of the type commonly referred to as theharizontal type cleaner, in which the operating motor and fan of thecleaner are arranged with their axis located horizontally, havepresented certain practical difficulties to the designing of a handsomeand artistic Cleaner casing, by reason of the arrangement anddisposition of the various elements of the machine, and for this reason,

not much has been done in the way of improvlng the design and appearanceof this particular type of cleaner.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a generallysimplified form of casing construction for a vacuum cleaner of the typeemploying a horizontally disposed motor;--

the casing being made up of a plurality of sections' which may bereadily die-cast or cast by the permanent mold process, without the useof expensive or complicated cores.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of' a sectionalform of cleaner casing construction in which the casing parts areconiigurated so as to laccommodate the operating elements of ahorizontal type cleaner, While at Ytlcsame time being of handsome andgraceful appearance.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of a suctioncleaner having a sectional c-asing including a shell which forms themajor exposed part of the casing, the other elements oi such casingbeing concealed by the shell and adapted to be readily and easilyattached thereto.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision in a vacuumcleaner, oi an improved arrangement for facilitating the removal of dustand litter collected during the operation of the device.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of an improvedform of vacuum cleaner handle adjustment control.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of improvedmeans for concealing the electriccord in the cleaner handle andintroducing the same to the vacuum cleaner casing..

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of certainimprovements whereby the handle shaft of a vacuum cleaner may be readilydetached from its bail, and connection and disconnection of anelectrical cord carried within the handle may be readily effected.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a vacuumcleaner of relatively simple and inexpensive construction which 1sadapted for carrying out the aforesaid objects.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafterillustrated and described in'some of its embodiments in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a vacuum cleaner, illustrating one form ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the rear of the cleaner shown inFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of one of the sections of the cleanercasing.

Figure 5 is a side elevational viewof the casing section shown in Figure4.

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, of the nozzle adjustmentmechanism.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1-4, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail View, partly in section, of the wiring arrangementand stop mechanism provided for holding the cleaner handle in itsvarious adjusted positions.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the handle stop mechanism shown in sectionin Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view of the work illuminating lamp and thestructure associated with it for permitting visual inspection of theinterior of the cleaner casing during the operation of the cleaner.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of reduced size, showing thecleaner in position for the discharge of accumulated dust and litter.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the lter bag of the cleaner shown in Figure1 1.

Figure 13 is an end view of the lter bag shown in Figures 11 and 12.`

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I4, Figure 12, showingthe relative position of the cleaner casing and its handle with respectto the bagA when the handle is adjusted to its lower operating position;and

Figure 15 is a detail view, partly in section, of the handle hand-gripand associated operating switch.

The cleaner illustrated in the drawings, comprises a shell or casingsection referred to ge'nerally by the numeral I, defining a hollowchamber open at its underside and provided at its rear end with anopening 2 which forms the discharge outlet of the cleaner. At itsforward end the' casing shell widens out to formt in part, a suctionnozzle 3, in which there is located a rotatable brush 4 mounted insuitable bearings 5, 6 provided at the opposite ends of the nozzle. Abumper strip 6 is fitted around the outer edges of the lower portion ofthe nozzle and is secured in position thereon by any suitable means,such as, screws or rivets 1, 1.

At the underside of the nozzle there is provided a removable guardmember 3 having spaced bars for preventing the carpet or other articlebeing cleaned from being drawn up into the mouth of the suction nozzle.A filter bag I is Vattached at its lower end in communicating relationwith the discharge outlet 2 of the casing shell I.

A casing section or element, referred to generally by the numeral I I,is tted at the forward end of the casing and there cooperates withcertain portions of the casing shell I to complete the, suction nozzleand fan chamber of the cleaner. The element II forms the bottom half I2of the fan casing, and a communicating discharge outlet I3 at the rearthereof. At its forward side the element I I is provided with adownwardly extending wall section I4 which forms the rear wall of thethroat of the suction nozzle and terminates in a lower edge I5 formingin part the rear lip of the suction nozzle.

Attachment of the casing element Il to the casing shell I is effected byscrews or other suitable means which are received in the openingsprovided in ears I6 carried by the fan case section I2 of this elementand also by screws or other means received in apertured extensions I1,I1 carried by the nozzle lip forming portion of the element II.

The interior of the casing shellis formed with a hollowed-out portion I6complementary to the fan chamber section I2 of the element II, and acontinuous snail-shaped fan chamber of customary shape is effected uponthe assembly of these elements. The element II is provided with a wallpart 20 which forms the rear wall of the fan case and also a supportingplate for the operating motor of the cleaner, comprising a stator 2I andassociated frame or casing parts 22 and 23; all of which are secured tothe plate 20 by any suitable means, such as, a pair of bolts 24, A24.'Ihe motor frame part 22 is secured to the casing shell section I by anysuitable means, such as, a screw 25. vThe armature 26 of the motor isprovided with a shaft 21 at the opposite ends of which there areprovided bearings 2B and 23. At the edge of the plate 20 there is fitteda gasket I9 to provide an air-tight joint at this point and similarsealing means may be provided along the vertical edges of the memberalong its line of contact with the casing shell I.

The forward end of the armature shaft carries an impeller fan 30 locatedwithin the fan chamber defined by the casing parts I2 and I8. Thearmature shaft 21 is threaded at 3| for detachably receiving a beltpulley 32, provided for driving a belt 33 operatively engaging the brush4 of the cleaner. The discharge outlet I3 of the fan case is at thelower level of the casing shell section I, and beneath the outlet thereis located a detachable or displaceable closure plate 34 pivoted to atubular member 45B at its forward end and securely locked to the casingsection I by any suitable means, such as, a latch 36 which is pivoted at36 at the rear end of the cleaner casing.

The latch 35 engages with the knob 3 1 carried by the rearmost part ofthe closure plate 34. The closure plate is provided with a pair ofrecesses or pockets 36 of semi-circular contour, within which a part ofthe rear wheels 40 of the cleaner are received. Each of these wheels iscarried on an axle pin 4|, one of which is provided for each of thewheels.

The forward end-of the cleaner is supported on wheels 42, 42 which -arerotatably mounted upon the crank arms 42 of corresponding cranks 43 and44. These cranks are fixed with respect to a supporting shaft 45extending transversely of the cleaner. Angular adjustment of the cranks43 and 44 and the shaft 45 is effected by means of a foot-operateddevice which comprises a foot pedal 46 integrally formed with the crankarm 44.

The crank 44 is of triangular shape and adjacent to its wider edge it isprovided with a channel or groove in which are formed oppositelydisposed series of ratchet teeth 41 and 43 which cooperate with atoothed member 50 fixed to a foot-operated plunger 5I which is guidedfor movement in a suitable bearing groove or channel 52 formed in thecasing shell I. A spring 53 is provided to urge the plunger 5I to itsuppermost position, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Movement of the cranks 43 and 44 and likewise the adjustment of theworking mouth of the cleaner may be effected by depressing the pedal 46,in which case, the nozzle of the cleaner is raised with respect to theworking surface. During the aforesaid operation, the bearing pins 42a ofthe wheels 42, 42 provide fulcrum points for the raising operation ofthe cleaner casing.

As shown best in Figure 6, the axis of the wheels and the axis of theshaft 45 are located with respect to the pedal 46 so 4that it is notnecessary to exert a great deal of pressure on the pedal to effect thedesired adjustment of the height of the cleaner nozzle. Downwardadjustment of the cleaner nozzle is effected in a stepby-step manner bygravity upon the actuation of the plunger 5I.

The toothed member 50 of the plunger 5I engages alternatively with theratchet teeth 41 and 48 in much the same manner as in the escapementmechanism of a clock, and under influence of gravity working through thecranks 43 and 44 the nozzle drops a distance corresponding to one of theratchet teeth 41 each time the plunger 5I is depressed until the toothedmember 50 engages with the end of the groove defined by the ratchetteeth 41 and 48. The plunger 5I is provided with an indicating arrow 54which cooperates with the numbered portion 55 of the foot pad 46 toindicate the adjustment of the nozzle.

Forwardly on the cleaner casing there is provided a device forilluminating the space in front of the cleaner and also for lighting upthe interior of the cleaner nozzle which may be viewed through a windowwhich is provided in the nozzle for this purpose. The arrangement, asshown best in Figure 10, comprises a supporting plate 66 carried by apivot pin 51 which is journaled in the casing section I. A cover plateV56 is detachably secured to the supporting plate 66 by the screws 61.The cover plate is provided with an opening for receiving a lens ortransparent piece of glass 58, held in place by means of a circularspring 60 (see Figure 2) and guarded by means of a bar 6I integral withthe plate 56. At its lower end the plate 56 is provided with adownwardly opening recess 62. This recess constitutes a combined lampguard, shade and reflector for a lamp 63 which is received in a lampsocket 64 detachably secured or held in place on the plate 66, by anysuitable means, such as, the screws 65, 65. The lamp socket 64 is 10connected to a cord 64a which is carried into the litter compartment byway of holes 64b. and 64 in the casing section I I, as best shown inFigure 1, where it is spliced to a motor current supply cord 80. Theplate 66 is provided with a Window 68 having a transparent covering sothat light from the lamp 63 is admitted through the window 68 to theinterior of the suction nozzle, and during the 'operation of thecleaner, the dust and dirt moving through the nozzle may be observedthrough the window dened by the lens or glass 58 of the cover plate 56.In addition to lighting up the interior of the suction nozzle, the lamp63 also illuminates the space in front of the cleaner.

The pivotal mounting of the cover plate allows it to be swung fromthefull line to the dotted position shown in Figure 2, permitting access tothe belt 33 and also to the interior of the suction nozzle for cleaningand other purposes.

With the cover plate in its open position, removal and replacement ofthe lamp may be effected upon removal of the screws 61, 61 whereupon thecover plate 56 may be detached from the supporting plate 66, thusexposing the lamp to view.

35 and as thesocket of this lamp is provided with a customary bayonetjoint, the lamp may be removed and replaced without difficulty.

The cleaner is provided with a handle in the form of a section of tubing10 which is detachably received in a socket 1I provided at the upper endof a bail 12. The bail socket is slotted at 13, and alongside this slota pair of ears 14 are formed. A screw 15 engages with the ears to clampthe socket 'Il tightly about the handle tube 10. Within the socket andtube a pair of complementary detachable electrical connector plugs 16and 11 are loosely carried.

The attachment of the handle to the cleaner is effected by firstconnecting the plug elements 16 50 and 11 to each other. The cord 18 forthe plug element 11 is long enough to permit this plug part to extendbeyond the end of the tube a slight distance, so that the connection ofthe plug elements may be readily effected whereupon the tube 'I0of thehandle may be fitted irto the socket 1I, and upon tightening of thescrew 15, the handle parts are securely fastened together. The excesslength of the cord 18 is received within the handle tube 18 when thehandle parts are assembled.

The handle may be taken apart in a reverse manner by simply looseningthe screw 15 and separating the tubular part of the handle from 5 thebail, whereupon the plug parts 'I6 and 11 are exposed to view and theirdisconnection may be readily effected. Neither one of the plug parts i16` or 'I1 are xedly or permanently attached to the tube or bail andthese elements are loosely carried within the handle.

The plug part 16 is connected to a cord 80 which is xed and concealed inthe channel of the bail 12 so that the cord' normally is not exposed toview. The handle bail .12 is pivoted at its lower ends t0 the casingshell I by means of screws 8|, one of which is provided for each end ofthe bail.Y

Circular plates 82 and 88 are xedly attached to the ends or the bail byany suitable means, such as, rivets 84. These plates are received 5within milled slots or notches 85 whiclrare cut in the casing at theplaces where the bail is attached to the casing. At the bottom'of themilled slots 85, there is provided an opening for reception of a squareor rectangular plunger 86 10 having a roller 81 at its upper end andhaving a stem portion 88 at the Alower end thereof. The plunger is urgedto its upper position by means of a spring 90 which is held in place bymeans of a threaded plug member 9| which is provided l5 with a suitablerecess for receiving and guiding the stem portion 88 of the plunger.

The rollers 81 of the plungers are adapted for engagement with suitablenotches 82 spaced about the edge or periphery of the plates 82 and 83,so 20 that engagement of the roller in one or the other of these notchesserves to hold the cleaner handle in one or the other of a plurality ofadjustedl positions, and the position of the handle may be readilychanged by simply overcoming the effect 25 of the rollers 81 on theplates 82 and 83. A`pair of bosses 93 are formed inside the shell forreception of the plunger and its associated elements.

The disk 82 diers from the disk,83,in that 30 it is provided at itsupper end with a hole 94 for receiving the cord 80. Adjacent the opening94 the casing shell I is formed with an arcuate slot 95 so that the cordmay be carried into the interior of the cleaner casing; the slot 85permitting movement of the handle and the cord i which projects from thehandle into the cleaner casing where it is connected to the motor ZI.

The milled slot which is cut in the casing shell I for reception of theplate 82 is slightly wider 4o than the slot which is provided for theplate 83. The extra width of this slot provides room for the receptionof a washer 86 which may be formed from felt or other suitable materialfor providing an effective dust seal about the arcu- 45 ate slot 95which is ,exposed to the dust and dirt inside the cleaner casing at thedisch-arge side of the suction fan. The hole 94 is of such size as tosnugly yet slidably receive the cord 80.

The lter bag Ill is designed so that it may 50 be constructed with aminimum amount of waste of material. This result is accomplished byhaving the top and bottom sides of the bag formed from substantiallyrectangular pieces of cloth 91 and 98 which are double seamed to arelatively 55 narrow side strip I DII which forms substantially parallelwall sections at the opposite sides of the bag. At its lower end the bagis provided with an enlarged opening IUI. About this opening, a spring|82 is sewed to the bag so that the bag may be readily connected ordisconnected with respect to the outlet 2 of the cleaner casing.

Up to the present time, it has been conceded generally that a cloth lterbag is the most satisfactory and effective device for the separation of65 the dust and dirt from the air of `a. vacuum cleaner. Filter bags forthis purpose, must of necessity, reduce the efficiency of the cleaner byreason of the back pressure they create at the discharge side of the fancase. This back pres- 70 sure, of course, may be reduced by using a bagof coarse mesh in which case, however, the ehiciency of the bag as adust lter is greatly reduced as a great deal of dust and small particlesof dirt are able to pass through a bagof coarse f5 mesh. For thisreason, it is essential, for effective separation of the dust and dirtfrom the air handled by the cleaner, that the bag be made of materialhaving relatively small pores.

The effectiveness of the cleaner, however, will not be greatly lessenedif the bag has suiiicient area to provide a large number of pores forthe escape of the air. A bag of this sort, when under pressure,ordinarily tends to assume a cylindrical or spherical shape and for thisreason, bags of the prior art cleaners have been kept within certainlimits of size, for when the cleaner is operated with the handlesubstantially parallel with the floor, as is often necessary, thecleaner bag if of any size, would interfere with the handle and rubagainst the floor and would hamper the manipulation of the cleaner to alarge extent.

In the present case, the filter bag disclosed is of relatively largesize and means are provided for preventing the bag from assuming acylindrical shape when it is inflated so that when the cleaner is inuse, the bag is of much greater width than thickness, thereby permittingoperation of the cleaner with the handle close to the floor withoutinterference by the bag as shown best in Figure 12.

This highly desirable result is effected by sewing strips |03 and |04lengthwise along the medial line of the bag in the interior thereof. Anumber of snap fasteners |05 are provided along the length of the strips|03 and |04 and these may be unfastened for emptying the bag and turningit inside out although the bag may be emptied without resorting to suchprocedure, which is usually followed when a thorough emptying andcleaning of the bag is desired.

Figure 11 shows the cleanerv in position for emptying the dust and dirtwhich has collected in the bag and in the dust and litter compartmentformed interiorly of the casing shell below the open end of the lter bagI0.

The plate 34 at its forward end is provided with a pair of extendingarms |06, one at each side of the plate, having curved-over end portionsI01 which partially embrace the tube 45 and provide a pivotal anddetachable connection between the plate 34 and the tube 45a, so that theplate 34 may be swung downwardly away from the cleaner casing andentirely removed therefrom if desired.

Figure 14 shows the relative positions of the cleaner casing, bag andoperating handle when the handle is in its lower position for cleaningunder low articles of furniture, such as, beds and the like. It isclear-from this illustration that by reason of the peculiar constructionof the bag, it does not rub against the fioor nor does it interfere withthe handle of the cleaner.

All of the operating parts of the motor are sealed within the casingdefined by the frame parts 22 and 23 and the stator 2|. Air circulationinside the motor-is provided by means of a small fan I9 carried by thearmature shaft of the motor. Heat generated in the motor is dissipatedby reason of its being located in the discharge passageway of thecleaner where it is exposed to a fiow of relatively cool air whicheffectively accomplishes the cooling of the motor.

The handle grip and operating switch of the cleaner are shown in detailin Figure 15. The hand grip l0 is horn-shaped and extends downwardly ofthe handle tube 10 and it has an end which is curved forwardly of thegrip. The peculiar shape of the hand grip facilitates the use of thecleaner in that it is not necessary for the operatoi` to tightly gripthe handle in the use of the cleaner as the convex top side and theconcave underside of the handle are designed for comfortable receptionin the hand for both pushing and pulling operations on the handle.

A switch operating member ||2 is associated with a switch mechanism ||3of conventional design which is-connected at one side to one of thestrands ||4 of the extension cord |I5 of the cleaner. This cord isadapted for connection to an electrical source' of current supply andits other strand ||6 is connected to one of the strands of the cord I0which is connected at its lower end to the plug part 11 and thus to themotor of the cleaner.

The second strand ||1 of the cord 10 is connected to the other side ofthe switch I3 so that when the switch is in its closed position,connection is effected between the strands |I4 and ||1 of the cords ||5and 10 respectively, and conversely when the switch operating member ||2is shifted to its open position, the aforesaid strands are disconnectedfrom each other and in this manner the operation of the motor 2| iscontrolled by a simple and easily operated switch mechanism.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms ofapparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forthare presented for purposes of illustration and explanation and thatvarious modifications of said apparatus andprocedure may be made withoutdeparture from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claimis:

1. 1n a suction cleaner, a casing structure comprising, a hollowexteriorly finished shell open at its underside and defining top andside wall parts of a suction nozzle, a fan case and motor housing, a fanin the fan case with its axis arranged horizontally, a single wallmember secured inside said shell for completing the suction nozzle andfan case, another wall member attached adjacent to the bottom edge ofsaid shell for completing said motor housing, and means for supportingsaid cleaner with the lower edge of said shell close to the supportingsurface.

2. A suction cleaner comprising, a hollow exteriorly finished shell openat its underside and defining exposed wall parts of a suction nozzle, afan case and a litter storage compartment arranged one behind the otherin the order named, an electric motor in the litter storage compartmenthaving a substantially horizontally disposed armature shaft, a fan insaid fan case operatively connected to the armature shaft of said motor,said litter storage compartment having a discharge outlet opening, and afilter bag communicating with the litter storage compartment by way ofthe discharge outlet opening thereof, said litter storage compartmenthaving a di'splaceable bottom wall part by means of which accumulateddust and litter may be readily discharged from the litter storagecompartment.

3. A suction cleaner comprising, ahollow exteriorly finished shell openat its underside and defining exposed wall parts of a suction nozzle, afan case and la. litter storage compartment, an electric motor in thelitter storage compartment having a substantially horizontally disposedarmature shaft, a fan in the fan case operatively connected to thearmature shaft of said motor,

Vsaid litter storage compartment having a displaceable bottom wall part-for permitting access assigne to the interior thereof, and supportingwheels for the cleaner rotatably carried by such wall part.

4. In a suction sweeper, a casing structure comprising a hollowexteriorly nished shell open at its underside and defining side and topwall parts of a suction nozzle, a fan case and a litter storagecompartment, such litter storage compartment having a discharge outletopening formed in a'wall thereof, a iilter bag communil eating with thedischarge outlet opening ci' the litter storage compartment, anoperating handle pivotally attached at one end to said casing structureand having said filter bag attached to its other end, a motor in thelitter compartment having a horizontally disposed armature shaftprojecting through the fan case and into the suetion nozzle, said motorhaving a dust-tight oasing enclosing the working parts of the motor, afan in the fan case operatively connected to the armature shaft ol saidmotor, a 'brush rotatably mounted in the suction nozzle, and a powertransmission belt connecting said brush to the armature shaft of saidmotora 5. An electrically-operated suction cleaner comprising, a casingstructure defining a suction nozzle, fan case and litter compartment, afan ln the fan case, a motor in the litter compartment operativelyconnected to said fan, a handle pi otally attached to the littercompartment of said casing structure, said handle comprising a 'bail anda shaft part extending upwardly therefrom, an electric cord carried bythe shaft part and bail oi said handle, the litter7 compartment of saidcasing structure having an opening adjacent to the handle pivot andtraversed by said cord, such opening being considerably larger than thediamn eter of said cord, and means movable with said cord and saidhandle bail forming an air seal for the opening ci said casingtraversed. by said corel.,

6. An electrically operated suction cleanei; comprising, a casingstructure, a motor therein9 an operating handle pivotally connected tosait?.

casing structure, said operating handle compris@ ing a bail and a shaftpart attached thereto, and an electric cord. iixed to and carried bysaid bail, said casing structure having an arcuate opening,1 ici'receiving the cord, said cord beingJ movement with said hail andrelative to the ing structure at the point where it enters casingstructnie.,

7. An eleetricallgf1 operated suction clean-es comprising, a casingstructure, a motor therein, an operating handle nivotally connected tesa casing structure, said operating handle compia ing a hail and a shan;part attached thereto, an electric cord fixed to and carried by saidbail having a part with an aperture foi" ceiving the cord andintroducing it into an aren ate cord receiving opening in said casing atture, said part serving to conceal the cord within 'the leali at thepoint where it enters the casing structure.

JAMES B. KY..

